Nonrefillable bottle



Jan. 24, 1939.

J. H. FREDERICK f NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE Filed Jan. 29', 1957 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES @Tsar OFFICE 10 Claims.

The present invention relates to non-refillable bottles and refers particularly to those having gravity actuated valves which are normally closed when the bottle is in upright position. I have found that bottles of this type may be tampered with, to the extent that the valve may be raised olf .its seat when the bottle is in upright position, thus permitting the introduction of a liquid of an inferior or different quality than that orige inally contained in the bottle. The present invention is designed to remedy this defect by providing means which, while permitting the ready discharge of liquid, will prevent the insertion of a tool or wire into contact with the valve.

A further object contemplates utilizing aglass 'bottle and valve with a glass enclosed reservoir aoove the valve, in combination with a metallic tamper-proof casing whereby any liquid trapped `above the valve will dow into the reservoir and thus remain uncontaminated because of its contact with glass instead of metal or other substance which might affect the taste of the liquid.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will now be more particularly described, reference being had to the accompany ing drawing, in Which:-

Figure l is a vertical section of the neck of a bottle illustrating one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectio-n of the neck of a bottle illustrating another embodiment `of my invention, and

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring now to Figures l'to 3 of the draw- 0 ing, the numeral it designates the neck of a glass bottle having a discharge opening communicating with the interior of the bottle which is reduced in diameter and tapered to form a valve seat ll. Directly above the valve seat, the opening in the bottle is substantially enlarged to provide a reservoir I 2 extending to the mouth of the bottle. A glass gravity-seated stopper or valve I3 of tapered formation lis adapted to normally engage the seat II when the bottle is in upright position. 'I'his valve is provided with an upwardly extending projection or shank I4 of non-circular formation in cross section and in the present ins-tance is shown as being square shaped.

A casing I5 is mounted upon the neck of the bottle for the purpose of enclosing the valve against tampering, but at the same time permitting the ready discharge of the liquid from the bottle. This casing is preferably secured to an annular enlargement I6 located at the mouth 5 of the bottle and surrounding the reservoir I2. It is to be observed that the enlargement I6 not only comprises an effective anchor for securing the casing to the bottle but also provides an annular bearing upon which the casing may be 10 rotated, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Secured within the casing, is a lower plate Il which is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced perforations I8 and a centrally l5 disposed aperture I9 of non-circular contour surrounding the shank or projection I4 of the valve.

A second upper plate 20 is also peripherally supported within the casing l5 and is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced per- 20 foraticns 2i similar to those in the lower plate I 'I and in staggered relation thereto. The central portion of the plate 2d is imperforate, as at 22, and constitutes a stop engageable with the upper end of the projection I4 to limit the outward ,25 movement of the valve I3. A tubular member 23, forming a guide for the projection I 4 of the valve, extends between the imperforate portion 22 of the upper plate and the lower plate.' This member is provided with a flange 24 resting upon and 30 secured to the lower plate Il and has a plurality of perforations 25 registering with the perforations I8 of the lower plate. The member 23 is also provided with a series of small openings 26 adjacent its upper end for the purpose of per- 35 mitting the escape of any uid which may collect in the tube upon tilting of the bottle and which may otherwise interfere with the outward movement of the valve and projection I 4,

Seated upon the imperforate portion 22 of the 40 upper plate, is a' second tubular member 2l. This member extends upwardly and is connected to the extreme Lipper end of the casing I5 in fluid-tight relation thereto, such as by turning over the metal of the casing upon the edges of 45 the tube. This arrangement provides a discharge opening 28 in the top of the casing and is adapted to be of sufficient diameter to permit the insertion of a cork (not shown) when the bottle is not in use. In the lower wall of the 50 tube 2l, directly above the imperforate portion 22, are a plurality of openings 29 arranged to alternate with the perforations 2| in the upper plate 2E), that is, they are in staggered relation to the perforations 2l. This is to prevent the 55 insertion of a tool or wire into the casing sufficiently to contact the valve I3, for the purpose of lifting the same from its seat when the bottle is in upright position. With the present construction it will be obvious that anyone attempting to insert a tool into the discharge opening 28, will immediately contact the imperforate portion 22 of the plate 20. If a bent wire is inserted through the opening 28, it may even penetrate one of the openings 29, but it is practically impossible that it will also penetrate one of the perforations 2I, due to the staggered relation of these perforations with the openings 29. The disalignment of the perforations 2| of the upper plate and the perforations I8 of the lower plate present a still further obstacle to one attempting to gain access to the valve. Thus, the present invention provides a tamper-proof device which at the same time permits the ready discharge of the uid when the bottle is tilted.

As described above, the casing 20 is not only securely mounted upon the enlarged annular portion I 6 at the mouth of the bottle, but is capable of rotation upon this enlargement. It will be observed that the lower plate I'I is seated upon the upper lip of the mouth of .the bottle and cooperates in rotatably securing the casing upon the annular portion i6. At the same time, by reason the tight t between the peripheral portions of the lower plate I'I and the beaded or annularly recessed portion 39 of the casing, a liquidtight joint is provided which prevents any leakage of liquid between the lower end of the casing and the outer surface of the neck of the bottle.

In View of the fact that the valve I3 and the seat II are constructed of glass, a very tight iit is assured and in order that the valve will not stick to its seat when the bottle is tilted, I have provided positive means for effecting a relative movement between the valve and seat. This is accomplished by the provision of the non-circular projection I4 extending within the non-circular aperture I9 of the lower plate. With this arrangement, rotation of the casing I3 will also rotate the lower plate I'I, and with it the projection I4 and valve. This will loosen the valve from its seat, and thus prevent any sticking action which might otherwise effect the operativeness of this device.

By reason of the neck of the bottle being enlarged directly above the valve seat, as at I2, a glass-enclosed reservoir is provided, into which all of the liquid trapped above the valve will iiow and be deposited. This reservoir is preferably proportioned to receive all of the liquid which may be trapped above the valve. Thus, any possibility of this trapped liquid becoming contaminated, and in turn affecting the contents of the bottle, will be obviated.

In Figure 4 I have shown a modication in winch the bottle neck 3| is provided with a tapered opening 32 having a metallic lining constituting a valve seat 33. A substantially hollow gravity-seated metallic valve 34 normally engages the seat 32 when the bottle is in upright position. The mouth of the bottle is provided with an annular enlarged portion 35 to which a casing 36 is secured. A plate 31 is positioned upon the mouth of the bottle and has its peripheral edges clamped within the annular bead 38 of the casing. This plate is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced perforations 39 and a centrally disposed imperforate portion 4E) upon which is seated a tubular member 4 I. This member extends upwardly, and as in the construction shown in Figure 1 the upper end of the casing is rolled or bent over into the tube as at 42 to provide a tight joint and a discharge opening 43. The lower wall of the tube 4I is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 44 which alternate with the perforations 39. Thus, as in the construction shown in Figure 1, any attempt to contact the valve 34 is defeated because of the imperforate portion 4D and the disaligned or staggered openings and perforations 39 and 44. In order to permit the ready flow of liquid from the bottle, the top wall 45 of the valve is provided with one or more upstanding lugs 46 adapted to engage the plate 31 and space the valve from the perforations 39 when the bottle is inverted.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the drawing and described in the specification, and that the example of the use of the device which has been given does not include all of the uses of which it is capable; also, that the phraseology employed in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

I claim:

1. A non-rellable bottle provided with a neck having an opening constituting a valve seat, a gravity seated valve normally closing the neck opening and engaging the seat, and means carried by the bottle neck and associated with the valve for effecting movement of the valve relative to its seat, said means permitting the discharge of the contents of the bottle when the latter is tilted but preventing lifting of the valve when the bottle is upright.

2. A non-reiillable bottle provided with a neck having an opening constituting a valve scat, a gravity seated valve normally closing the neck opening and engaging the seat, and means including a casing movably mounted on the bottle neck and engageable with the valve for moving the same relative to its seat and permitting relative movement between said valve and casing.

3. A non-rellable bottle provided with a neck having an opening constituting a valve seat, a gravity seated valve normally closing the neck opening and engaging the seat, and means including a casing rotatably mounted on the bottle neck against longitudinal movement and engageable with said valve to rotate the latter on its seat.

4. A non-rellable bottle provided with a neck having an opening constituting a valve seat, a gravity seated valve normally engaging said seat and having a non-circular extremity extending into the mouth of the bottle, a casing movably mounted on the bottle neck, and means carried by said casing and engageable with the extremity on the valve to move the valve relative to its seat.

5. A non-rellable bottle provided with a neck having an opening constituting a valve seat, a gravity seated valve normally engaging said seat and having a non-circular projection extending into the mouth of the bottle, a casing rotatably mounted on the bottle neck, and a plate carried by and rotatable with said casing and having a non-circular aperture surrounding the projection of the valve and effecting a rotation thereof upon rotation of said casing.

6. A non-reiillable bottle provided with a neck having a tapered opening constituting a valve seat, a gravity seated valve of tapered formation normally engaging said seat, a casing rotatably mounted on the bottle neck and having a cen- ISO trally disposed discharge opening located above the mouth of the bottle, a plate mounted within said casing above the valve and provided with a centrally disposed imperforate'portion in alignment with said discharge opening, said plate having a plurality of perforations surrounding the central imperiorate portion and out of alignment with said discharge opening, and a second perforated plate mounted in said casing below said rst plate and having means associated with said valve to effect a relative rotation of the valve upon rotation of said casing.

7. A non-rellabile bottle provided with a neck having an opening constituting a valve seat, a gravity seated valve normally closing the neck opening and engaging the seat, a casing movably mounted on the bottle neck and engageable with the valve for moving the same relative to its seat, and tamper-proof means carried by said casing to prevent lifting of the valve from its seat when the bottle is in upright position.

8. A non-refillable bottle provided with a neck having an opening constituting a valve seat, a gravity seated valve normally closing the neck opening and engaging the seat, a casing rotatably mounted on the bottle neck against longitudinal movement nad engageable with said valve to rotate the latter on its seat, and tamper-proof means mounted in the casing above the valve and adapted to prevent lifting of the valve from its seat when the bottle is in upright position.

9. A non-refillable bottle having a discharge opening, a gravity seated valve carried by the bottle and normally closing the discharge opening, and means movably carried by the bottle and associated with the valve for moving the same relative to its seat and permitting relative longitudinal movement between the valve and said means for discharging the contents of the bottle when the latter is tilted.

10. A non-rellable bottle having a discharge opening, a gravity seated valve carried by the bottle and normally closing the discharge opening, and means including a casing rotatably carried by the bottle against longitudinal movement and engageable with said valve to rotate the latter on its seat.

JOHN H. FREDERICK. 

